Shannon Taylor Vannatter – Update – Part 1 of 2

I thought I should give everyone on an update on me. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for my Christmas title, A Texas Holiday Reunion (Book 3 in my Texas Cowboys series). Deadline: To be generous I’ll put everyone who has commented on any post on my blog up until Dec 15th, 11:59 pm central time, since it’s a Christmas book. If you comment on this post, I’ll put your name in the drawing twice.

After I finished my 4 book series with Love Inspired, I’ll admit I needed a break. My brain was tired. Shortly after I turned in the final book of my contract and I’d submitted a proposal for a new series, my editor left. When that happens, things get even slower in the publishing realm.

It took my publisher a while to find a new editor. When they hired someone, she was buried in proposals. It was well into the summer before she read my idea. And rejected it. Yes, just because I’m published, that doesn’t mean they love everything I write and throw contracts at me. She specifically told me what she didn’t like about the story and why it wouldn’t fit LI. I reworked the proposal, she still didn’t think it fit. I reworked it one more time and it still didn’t work.

I took a break, then wrote another proposal. By this time, we were well into the fall. The editor liked the series idea, but wanted me to smooth a few things out. I reworked the proposal and am waiting to hear back. Nothing in publishing happens quickly and especially not during the busy Christmas season.

During this extended, unintended break, we finished the remodel on our house. I have my own cozy, beachy office which I love with a screened in porch where I often work when weather permits.

I traveled to Tennessee to teach at a writing conference/retreat. I attended a local writing retreat where I promptly got sick and missed half of the first day. But I recovered in time to teach my class and felt fine the second day.

Montgomery Bell State Park

Mount Eagle Retreat Center in Shirley, AR

My writer bud Jennifer Slattery visited from Nebraska. We got to celebrate in person her new contract with Love Inspired. Her book, Restoring her Faith, releases in May, so watch for it. Since we’re both addicted to coffee, I took her and her sweet husband, Steve to Rozark Hills Roasterie in Rose Bud, AR. She got to watch them grind coffee and took pictures of all the equipment.

Jennifer Slattery

I revisited an old manuscript that’s been in my head for years. Expanded the 123 pages I had to 141 pages with a historical thread pertinent to the setting that deepened the contemporary story. But the electricity went off and the revisions I made are gone even though I’d saved the document. Lesson learned, get back into the habit of e-mailing myself my writing for the day – every day. It took me about a month of grieving. But I’m ready to dive back into the revisions now and finish this book.

My cousin

At the end of November, My cousin Jackie moved here from Illinois. We visited frequently when we were kids, a few times as adults, but never lived in the same state until now. We even got to have Thanksgiving together.

Last weekend, I hosted a Christmas party for my local writers group. Though the weather turned icy, four of my writer buds braved it. We exchanged gift socks, ate too many goodies, swapped stories, and had fun.

I do have a bit of concrete news on the writing front. In May, Love Inspired is repackaging the first book in my Texas Cowboy series, Reuniting with the Cowboy along with Tina Radcliff’s title, Rocky Mountain Cowboy into one volume, Sweetheart Reunion. So if you missed my title and/or Tina’s the first time around, here’s your second chance.

About Me: Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.

She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

With her foreman out of commission, Resa McCall needs horse trainer Colson Kincaid to run her family ranch through the holidays. But having the handsome single dad back in Bandera, Texas, is unsettling. Colson broke Resa’s heart years ago, and she can’t risk getting close again. Still, working with him and bonding with his sweet little girl is making the ranch feel merry and bright. Being at Resa’s side stirs up emotions Colson thought were long gone. But he has a powerful secret that could keep them apart forever. Can Colson give Resa the one Christmas present that might finally bring them back together—the truth?

My year didn’t go as planned, but my husband and I both knew God was going to shake things up. My husband ended up unemployed for six months and now has a job that pays half the amount he made before. It’s all been an experience in trusting God and hopefully listening to Him well enough to make good decisions. The new job my husband has, he loves it!

I completely understand, Linda. Since my husband is a full time pastor and I write Christian books, we make so much less than we did when we had secular jobs. But we’re happy and we have more time for our son.

No my year has not gone as planned. Hubby lost job and couldn’t find a job till October, which leaves bill’s behind and cash owed. I am on several medications, which can not be filled till I see dr. Hubby doesn’t have any insurance so my blood pressure pills and all have not been taken for months. On a good note though. We plan on moving in April to be closer to my grand boys. We have 2, one is five, other three, and third one will be here in April. We cant wait to be closer to grandchildren and daughter.
Sounds like you had a rough year. Hope all gets better. Have a safe and blessed Christmas and New Year

It’s tough when job and finance things happen, Melissa. My lack of a contract cut into our finances too. And insurance is so expensive. But I’m glad you’re getting to move near your kids. Maybe next year will be better for both of us.

Everything this year didn’t go as planned, but it turned out to be a blessing. I published my first book, but I didn’t expect to accidentally stumble onto one of your books as I was shopping at Wal-Mart, discover that you live in Arkansas too, and that you would become my friend and introduce me to some special ladies in our writing group! It was one of the highlights of my year! I’m wishing you well on this proposal and hope you hear good news soon!

You’re so sweet, Candace. I’m really glad we found you too. You’ve been a great addition to the group. I so wish you could have made the Christmas party. I’m planning to make the January meeting and hope you can too.

This year was tough. My mother in law at the age of 84 had some seizures and the doctors cant find out what caused them. Stressful 6 months. My husbands oldest sister died. Our daughter is living in the middle of the fires in CA. My dad died. I was named executor and dads will and trust just opened a can of worms with snakes. I am so grateful that it is Christmas time and I am concentrating on the love and peacefulness of Jesus our on true gift. But through it all, I have learned to rely more heavily on our Lord.

Wow, that’s a rough year Lori. I don’t know how people who aren’t Christians get through what life throws at us. And I’m so thankful, we can know peace in Him when the bad stuff comes. Hope your 2019 is great.

I am so sorry you have had such a tough time. I had been wondering when we might see a new book from you. Sounds like life has been rough for everyone, myself included. I’ve been through things this year I could never have imagined. Thank goodness we have the Lord!

Hey Linda, thanks for sharing even though you already have the book. Seems like this year has rough for lots of people. But while my professional life didn’t do well, my life, family, and friends are great. So I’m thankful for that.

The end of the year has been interesting with hubby’s office location being moved. He was really stressed about the new “open concept” locations but we are slowly seeing some positives in the move. A pair of noise cancelling headphones will help the situation, too.

Hey Perrianne. I understand your husband’s stress. I worked in a bank and a large office long ago. It is harder to concentrate with several workers in one space. I never thought of headphones. The last position I had, I finally had my own office. It was awesome.

My mother-in-law unexpectedly passed away in April this year, so that was tough after losing my sister last year. The unexpected blessing with my mother—in-law passing away was that she left my husband money in a trust fund which we were not expecting so it has been a bittersweet time. Christmas is still hard this year without our loved ones.

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What Shannon’s Readers Say:

"Shannon writes stories that capture your imagination and creates characters who are believable and likable. When I read her books I feel 'carried away' her writing really pulls the reader in." (White Doves)

Romance Reader

"I was so glad to read White Roses and find a fully developed story line with strong characters and enough twists in the plot to keep the classical romance from being boring." (White Roses)

J.B. Rogers

Kindle Customer

"Shannon's characters become close to the reader's heart so that by the time they reach the last page they feel like they've experienced life with these characters." (Rodeo Family)

Amazon Reader

"I've never gotten inside the head of a heroine so quickly before. Within just a few pages I felt like I really knew Lacie and we bonded instantly." (Rodeo Ashes)

Kav

"This is such a touching story. It’s a story of love, forgiveness and redemption." (Rodeo Regrets)

Kay M.

"I LOVED this book! It was so good to read a romance book where the main character's strength comes from God." (Rodeo Dust)

Nichole Hall

"Such a great story! Such a heart warming romance and the characters are so interesting. Even had a little suspense as an added bonus. It was hard to put down until I finished reading it!" (Reuniting with the Cowboy)

Lori K. Flores

"A tender romance with a sweet twist at the end. I couldn't put it down!" (Winning Over the Cowboy)

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More about Shannon Vannatter

Shannon Taylor Vannatter is an inspirational romance novelist from Arkansas. She is also a stay-at-home mom and pastor’s wife. Shannon’s most recent books feature rodeos and cowboys. Click HERE to learn more about Shannon.